JP7607136B2 - Aerosol generating device and method for controlling heating time of heater - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device and method for controlling the heating time of a heater.

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternatives to the typical cigarette. For example, there is an increasing demand for methods of generating aerosols by heating an aerosol-generating substrate within an aerosol-generating product without burning the aerosol-generating product. As a result, research into heated aerosol-generating products and heated aerosol-generating devices is actively underway.

In an aerosol generating device, a heater is used to heat the aerosol generating substrate, but the heating time of the heater must be set differently depending on the degree to which the aerosol generating substrate (i.e., the aerosol generating substance) is to be vaporized. Therefore, a technology is needed to control the heating time of the heater based on the possible amount of vaporization of the aerosol generating substrate.

The aerosol generating device can control the heating time of the heater so that the heater operates only for a specific, pre-set time for each aerosol product.

However, if the heater heats the aerosol-generating substrate only for a preset time, the user will not be able to continue smoking after the time has elapsed, even if there is a sufficient amount of aerosol-generating substrate remaining.

The various embodiments provide an aerosol generating device and method for controlling the heating time of a heater as a solution to the above-mentioned problems. The technical problem to be solved by this disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned technical problem, and other technical problems can be inferred from the following embodiments.

Various embodiments provide an aerosol generating device that can control the heating time of the heater based on the remaining amount of aerosol generating material.

As a technical means for achieving the above-mentioned technical problem, one aspect of the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating device including a heater for heating an aerosol generating substrate, a puff sensor for measuring the size of a user's puff, and a control unit for determining the amount of vaporization of the aerosol generating substrate based on a puff sensing value indicating the size of the user's puff, and controlling the heating time of the heater based on the determined amount of vaporization.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for controlling an aerosol generating device is provided, the method including the steps of heating an aerosol generating substrate, measuring the size of a user's puff using a puff sensor, determining the amount of vaporization of the aerosol generating substrate based on a puff sensing value indicating the size of the user's puff, and controlling the heating time of a heater based on the determined amount of vaporization.

The present disclosure can provide an aerosol generating device and method that controls the heating time of a heater.

Specifically, the aerosol generating device according to the present disclosure can determine the amount of vaporization (i.e., the amount consumed) and the remaining amount of the aerosol generating substrate based on the value measured by the puff sensor, and can control the heating time of the heater based on the determined amount of vaporization and the remaining amount.

As a result, the heater can continue to heat the aerosol-generating substrate even after the preset time for smoking an aerosol-generating article has elapsed, allowing the user to continue smoking, increasing user convenience. Also, waste of the aerosol-generating article can be prevented.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the examples given above, and many more effects are included within this specification.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an aerosol production product inserted into the aerosol generating device. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an aerosol production product inserted into the aerosol generating device. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an aerosol production product inserted into the aerosol generating device. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an aerosol product. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operation of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the temperature of a heater measured by a puff sensor according to one embodiment. 4 is a diagram illustrating a puff sensing value output by a puff sensor according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the amount of vaporization of an aerosol-generating substrate according to one embodiment. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for an aerosol generating device to control a heating time of a heater based on an amount of vaporization according to one embodiment.

The terms used in this embodiment are currently common terms that are widely used as much as possible, while taking into consideration the functions of the present invention. However, they may differ depending on the intention of working in this field, legal precedents, or the emergence of new technology. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may have arbitrarily selected terms, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in detail in the description of the relevant invention. Therefore, the terms used in this invention must be defined based on the meanings that the terms have and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply by the name of the terms.

Throughout the specification, when a part "includes" a certain component, this does not mean to exclude other components, but means to further include other components, unless otherwise specified. In addition, terms such as "... unit" and "... module" used in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and they are implemented by hardware or software, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In addition, terms including ordinal numbers such as "first" or "second" used in this specification are intended to distinguish one component from other components, and such terms do not limit the components.

The term "aerosol product" may refer to a product designed to allow a person to inhale the aerosol product. The aerosol product may also include an aerosol generating substance (i.e., an aerosol generating substrate) that generates an aerosol without combustion. For example, at least one aerosol product may generate an aerosol when loaded into an aerosol generating device and heated by the aerosol generating device. The shape, size, material, and structure of the aerosol product may vary depending on the embodiment. Examples of the aerosol product may include, but are not limited to, cigarettes and cartridges.

As used herein, phrases such as "at least one of" preceding a list of elements modify the entire list of elements and not the individual elements of the list. For example, phrases such as "at least one of a, b, and c" should be understood to include a alone, b alone, c alone, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

In the following, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily implement the embodiments. However, the present invention may be embodied in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 to 3 are diagrams illustrating an example of an aerosol product being inserted into an aerosol generating device.

Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 100 includes a battery 110, a control unit 120, and a heater 130.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the aerosol generating device 100 further includes a vaporizer 140. In addition, an aerosol product 200 may be inserted into the internal space of the aerosol generating device 100.

The aerosol generating device 100 shown in Figures 1 to 3 illustrates components related to this embodiment. Therefore, a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field related to this embodiment would understand that the aerosol generating device 100 further includes other general-purpose components in addition to the components illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

In addition, although Figures 2 and 3 show the aerosol generating device 100 as including a heater 130, the heater 130 may be omitted if necessary.

1 shows the battery 110, the control unit 120, and the heater 130 arranged in a row. Also, in FIG. 2, the battery 110, the control unit 120, the vaporizer 140, and the heater 130 are arranged in a row. Also, in FIG. 3, the vaporizer 140 and the heater 130 are arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 100 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. That is, the arrangement of the battery 110, the control unit 120, the heater 130, and the vaporizer 140 may be changed depending on the design of the aerosol generating device 100.

When the aerosol product 200 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 100, the aerosol generating device 100 can operate the heater 130 and/or the vaporizer 140 to generate aerosol from the aerosol product 200 and/or the vaporizer 140. The aerosol generated by the heater 130 and/or the vaporizer 140 passes through the aerosol product 200 and is delivered to the user.

If necessary, the aerosol generating device 100 can heat the heater 130 even when the aerosol product 200 is not inserted into the aerosol generating device 100.

The battery 110 supplies the power used for the operation of the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the battery 110 can supply power to heat the heater 130 or the vaporizer 140, and can supply the power required for the control unit 120 to operate. The battery 110 can also supply the power required for the operation of a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. provided in the aerosol generating device 100.

The control unit 120 controls the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 100. Specifically, the control unit 120 controls the operation of not only the battery 110, the heater 130, and the vaporizer 140, but also the other components included in the aerosol generating device 100. The control unit 120 can also check the state of each component of the aerosol generating device 100 and determine whether the aerosol generating device 100 is in an operable state.

The control unit 120 includes at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates, or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program that can be executed by the microprocessor is stored. Those having ordinary skill in the art to which this embodiment pertains will understand that the present invention may also be embodied in other forms of hardware.

The heater 130 is also heated by the power supplied from the battery 110. For example, when the aerosol product 200 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 100, the heater 130 may be located outside the aerosol product 200. Thus, the heated heater 130 may increase the temperature of the aerosol generating substrate within the aerosol product 200.

The heater 130 may also be an electrically resistive heater. For example, the heater 130 may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater 130 may be heated by passing an electric current through the electrically conductive track. However, the heater 130 is not limited to the above example, and may be any type of heater that can heat up to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be preset in the aerosol generating device 100, or may be set to a temperature desired by the user.

For example, the heater 130 may include a tubular heating element, a plate heating element, a needle heating element, or a rod heating element, and depending on the form of the heating element, may heat the inside or outside of the aerosol product article 200.

As another example, the heater 130 may be an induction heater. Specifically, the heater 130 includes an electrically conductive coil for heating the aerosol product 200 by induction heating, and the aerosol product 200 includes a susceptor heated by the induction heater. The susceptor is tubular or cylindrical and is arranged to surround the storage space into which the aerosol product 200 (e.g., a cigarette) is inserted. When the aerosol product 200 is inserted into the storage space of the aerosol generating device 100, the susceptor can surround the aerosol product 200. Therefore, the temperature of the aerosol-generating substrate in the aerosol product 200 may increase due to the heat transferred from the external susceptor. The induction coil may generate a variable magnetic field by receiving power from the battery 110. The variable magnetic field generated by the induction coil may be applied to the susceptor, thereby heating the susceptor. The power supplied to the induction coil is also adjusted by the control unit 120 so that the temperature of the susceptor is maintained within an appropriate range.

The aerosol generating device 100 may also be provided with a plurality of heaters 130. In this case, the plurality of heaters 130 are arranged so as to be inserted inside the aerosol product 200, and also arranged outside the aerosol product 200. Some of the plurality of heaters 130 are arranged so as to be inserted inside the aerosol product 200, and the rest are arranged outside the aerosol product 200. The shape of the heater 130 is not limited to the shapes shown in Figures 1 to 3, and may be produced in a variety of shapes.

The vaporizer 140 can heat the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, and the generated aerosol can pass through the aerosol product 200 and be delivered to the user. That is, the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 140 can move along an airflow passage of the aerosol generating device 100, and the airflow passage is also configured to allow the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 140 to pass through the aerosol product 200 and be delivered to the user.

For example, the vaporizer 140 may include, but is not limited to, a liquid storage unit, a liquid transfer means, and a heating element. For example, the liquid storage unit, the liquid transfer means, and the heating element may also be included in the aerosol generating device 100 as independent modules.

The liquid storage unit can store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition can be a liquid containing tobacco-containing material, including volatile tobacco aroma components, or a liquid containing non-tobacco material. The liquid storage unit can be made to be detachable/attachable to/from the vaporizer 140, or can be made integral with the vaporizer 140.

For example, the liquid composition may include water, a solvent, ethanol, a plant extract, a flavoring, a flavoring agent, or a vitamin mixture. The flavoring agent may include, but is not limited to, menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, various fruit aroma components, and the like. The flavoring agent may include components capable of providing a variety of flavors or tastes to the user. The vitamin mixture may include, but is not limited to, at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E. The liquid composition may also include an aerosol forming agent, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

The liquid transfer means can transfer the liquid composition in the liquid reservoir to the heating element. For example, the liquid transfer means can be, but is not limited to, a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic.

The heating element is an element for heating the liquid composition transferred by the liquid transfer means. For example, the heating element can be, but is not limited to, a metal hot wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, etc. The heating element can also be composed of a conductive filament such as a nichrome wire, and can be arranged in a structure wound around the liquid transfer means. The heating element can also be heated by a current supply, and can transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, causing the liquid composition to be heated. As a result, an aerosol can be generated.

For example, the vaporizer 140 may also be called a cartomizer or an atomizer, but is not limited to these.

Meanwhile, the aerosol generating device 100 includes general-purpose components in addition to the battery 110, the control unit 120, the heater 130, and the vaporizer 140. For example, the aerosol generating device 100 includes a display capable of outputting visual information, and/or a motor for outputting tactile information. The aerosol generating device 100 also includes at least one sensor (e.g., a puff sensor, a temperature sensor, an aerosol product insertion detection sensor, etc.). The aerosol generating device 100 is also fabricated in a structure that allows external air to flow in and internal gas to flow out even when the aerosol product 200 is inserted.

Although not shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the aerosol generating device 100 can also be combined with a separate cradle to form a system. For example, the cradle can also be used to charge the battery 110 of the aerosol generating device 100. Alternatively, the heater 130 can be heated while the cradle and the aerosol generating device 100 are combined.

The aerosol product 200 may be similar to a typical combustible cigarette. For example, the aerosol product 200 may be divided into a first portion including an aerosol-generating substrate and a second portion including a filter or the like. Alternatively, the second portion of the aerosol product 200 may also include an aerosol-generating substrate. For example, an aerosol-generating substrate made in the form of granules or capsules may also be inserted into the second portion.

The entire first part is inserted into the aerosol generating device 100, and the second part is exposed to the outside. Alternatively, only a portion of the first part may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 100, and the entire first part and a portion of the second part may be inserted. A user can inhale the aerosol while holding the second part to their mouth. At that time, the aerosol is generated by external air passing through the first part, and the generated aerosol passes through the second part and is delivered to the user's mouth.

As an example, the outside air also flows in through at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the opening and closing of the air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 100 and/or the size of the air passage can be adjusted by the user. As a result, the amount of atomization, smoking sensation, etc. can be adjusted by the user. As another example, the outside air also flows in through at least one hole formed on the surface of the aerosol generating device 200.

Below, an example of an aerosol product 200 is described with reference to Figure 4.

Figure 4 shows an example of an aerosol product.

Referring to FIG. 4, the aerosol product 200 includes a tobacco rod 210 and a filter rod 220. The first portion already described with reference to FIGS. 1-3 includes the tobacco rod 210, and the second portion also includes the filter rod 220.

Although FIG. 4 illustrates the filter rod 220 as a single segment, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the filter rod 220 may be composed of multiple segments. For example, the filter rod 220 may include a first segment that cools the aerosol and a second segment that filters a specific component contained in the aerosol. Optionally, the filter rod 220 may further include at least one segment that performs another function.

The aerosol product 200 is also packaged by at least one wrapper 240. The wrapper 240 may have at least one hole through which external air can flow in and internal gas can flow out. As an example, the aerosol product 200 is packaged by one wrapper 240. As another example, the aerosol product 200 is stacked by two or more wrappers 240. For example, the tobacco rod 210 may be packaged by a first wrapper 241, and the filter rod 220 may be packaged by wrappers 242, 243, and 244. The entire aerosol product 200 is then further packaged by a single wrapper 245. When the filter rod 220 is composed of multiple segments, each segment is also packaged by a wrapper 242, 243, and 244.

The tobacco rod 210 includes an aerosol-generating substrate. For example, the aerosol-generating substrate may include, but is not limited to, any of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. The tobacco rod 210 may also include other additives, such as flavorants, humectants, and/or organic acids. A flavoring liquid, such as menthol or a humectant, may also be added to the tobacco rod 210 by spraying it onto the tobacco rod 210.

The tobacco rod 210 can be made in various ways. For example, the tobacco rod 210 can be made of a sheet or a strand. The tobacco rod 210 can also be made of shredded tobacco, which is a tobacco sheet cut into small pieces. The tobacco rod 210 can also be surrounded by a thermally conductive material. For example, the thermally conductive material can be a metal foil such as aluminum foil, but is not limited thereto. As an example, the thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 210 can evenly distribute the heat transferred to the tobacco rod 210 and improve the thermal conductivity applied to the tobacco rod, thereby improving the taste of the tobacco. The thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 210 can also function as a susceptor heated by an induction heater. In this case, although not shown in the drawing, the tobacco rod 210 can also include a further susceptor in addition to the thermally conductive material surrounding the outside.

The filter rod 220 is also a cellulose acetate filter. There are no limitations on the shape of the filter rod 220. For example, the filter rod 220 is a cylindrical rod, or a tube-type rod with a hollow interior. The filter rod 220 is also a recessed rod. When the filter rod 220 is composed of multiple segments, at least one of the multiple segments is also manufactured to have a different shape.

The filter rod 220 is also made to produce a flavor. For example, a flavoring liquid can be sprayed onto the filter rod 220, and separate fibers coated with the flavoring liquid are also inserted into the filter rod 220.

The filter rod 220 may also include at least one capsule 230. Here, the capsule 230 may generate a flavor or an aerosol. For example, the capsule 230 may have a structure in which a liquid containing a flavoring is covered with a coating. The capsule 230 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

If the filter rod 220 includes a segment for cooling the aerosol, the cooling segment may be made of a polymeric or biodegradable polymeric material. For example, the cooling segment may be made of pure polylactic acid, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the cooling segment may be made of a cellulose acetate filter with multiple holes. However, the cooling segment is not limited to the above examples, and may be applicable without limitation as long as it can perform the function of cooling the aerosol.

Although not shown in FIG. 4, the aerosol product 200 according to one embodiment further includes a front end filter. The front end filter is also located on one side of the tobacco rod 210 opposite the filter rod 220. The front end filter can prevent the tobacco rod 210 from escaping to the outside, and can prevent liquefied aerosol from flowing from the tobacco rod 210 into the aerosol generating device 100 (FIGS. 1 to 3) during smoking.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the aerosol generating device 500 also includes a heater 510, a puff sensor 520, and a control unit 530. The aerosol generating device 500, heater 510, and control unit 530 in FIG. 5 correspond to the aerosol generating device 100, heater 130, and control unit 120 in FIGS. 1 to 3, respectively, and therefore overlapping content will be omitted.

The heater 510 can heat the aerosol product inserted into the aerosol generating device 500, and can heat the aerosol generating substrate within the aerosol product so that an aerosol is generated from the aerosol generating substrate.

The puff sensor 520 can measure the size of the user's puff. The size of the puff refers to the intensity or strength of the puff on the aerosol product, and also corresponds to the amount of aerosol inhaled by the user through the puff. The puff sensor 520 can measure the user's puff size based on a change in the temperature of the heater, and can also measure the user's puff size based on a change in the current flowing through the heater. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to these. According to one embodiment, the puff sensor 520 can measure the user's puff size based on a change in the airflow flow rate, a change in the power supplied to the heater, etc.

The control unit 530 can control the heating time (i.e., the operating time) of the heater 510. The method in which the control unit 530 controls the heating time of the heater 510 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 6.

Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operation of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment.

In step 610, the aerosol generating device can determine the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate based on the value measured from the puff sensor. If the puff sensor measures the user's puff size based on a change in heater temperature, the measured value may mean the heater temperature measured by the puff sensor, or may also mean a value obtained by converting (e.g., filtering) the heater temperature measured by the puff sensor. The amount of vaporization may mean the amount of the aerosol-generating substrate in the aerosol product that is heated and vaporized. In this case, the value measured and output by the puff sensor is also called a "puff sensing value."

In the puff generation section, the heater temperature also changes depending on the user's puff. A larger change in heater temperature may indicate a larger amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate. For example, if the aerosol generating device experiences a larger temperature change in the second puff generation section than in the first puff generation section, the aerosol generating device may determine that a larger amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate is occurring in the second puff generation section than in the first puff generation section.

In step 620, the aerosol generating device may control the heating time of the heater based on the determined amount of vaporization. For example, the aerosol generating device may extend the heating time of the heater when it is determined that the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate is low. As another example, the aerosol generating device may not extend the heating time of the heater when it is determined that the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate is high. In this way, the aerosol generating device may make the most of the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating substrate. This may prevent the aerosol product from being wasted, and may increase the satisfaction of the user.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the heater temperature measured by a puff sensor according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, graph A shows the heater temperature depending on the heating time of the heater measured by the puff sensor. In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis represents the heating time of the heater, and the unit is 0.1 seconds. In FIG. 7, the vertical axis may represent the heater temperature (°C) measured by the puff sensor.

The puff sensor may measure the temperature of the heater. The size of the puff may change the temperature of the heater. For example, the size of the puff may be proportional to the degree to which the heater temperature measured from the puff sensor drops.

Figure 8 is a diagram for explaining a puff sensing value output by a puff sensor according to an embodiment. Referring to Figure 8, graph B may represent a puff sensing value according to the heating time of the heater. In Figure 8, the horizontal axis represents the heating time of the heater, and the unit is 0.1 seconds. In Figure 8, the vertical axis may represent the amplitude of the puff sensing value.

The puff sensor of the aerosol generating device can measure the heater temperature and digitally filter the measured temperature to obtain a puff sensing value. By using this digital filtering, the heater temperature measured from the puff sensor can be flattened.

In one embodiment, the puff sensor may perform digital filtering using a band-pass digital filter. For example, the puff sensor may output the heater temperature using a band-pass digital filter in the range of 0.2 Hz to 2 Hz. As another example, the puff sensor may output the measured heater temperature using a band-pass digital filter in the range of 0.2 Hz to 0.8 Hz. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above example. The aerosol generating device may determine the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate based on the puff sensing value. In the puff generation section, the larger the change in the puff sensing value is, the larger the puff size is, and the greater the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate may be. For example, referring to FIG. 8, the change in the puff sensing value is greater in the section from 40 seconds to 42 seconds than in the section from 66 seconds to 68 seconds, so that the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate is even greater in the section from 40 seconds to 42 seconds than in the section from 66 seconds to 68 seconds.

Figure 9 is a diagram for explaining the amount of vaporization of an aerosol-generating substrate in one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, graph A shows the heater temperature measured by the puff sensor depending on the heating time of the heater. Graph B shows the puff sensing value depending on the heating time of the heater. In FIG. 9, the horizontal axis represents the time the heater is heated, and the unit is 0.1 seconds. The left vertical axis may represent the heater temperature (°C) measured by the puff sensor. The right vertical axis may represent the magnitude of the puff sensing value. The horizontal arrow (a) may represent the puff generation section, and the vertical arrow (b) may represent the difference between the maximum puff sensing value for each puff generation section and the reference critical value.

The aerosol generating device may determine a time period during which the puff sensing value is maintained above a reference critical value as a puff occurrence period. The reference critical value is a preset value for determining whether a puff has occurred. For example, referring to FIG. 9, the period from 8.0 seconds to 8.5 seconds may be determined as a puff occurrence period (i.e., a time period) since the puff sensing value is maintained above the reference critical value. Also, the period from 41.5 to 42.5 seconds may be determined as a puff occurrence period. Meanwhile, the period from 50.0 seconds to 51.0 seconds is not determined as a puff occurrence period since the puff sensing value is less than the reference critical value.

In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device may measure a difference value obtained by subtracting the reference critical value from the maximum puff sensing value during the puff generation period. For example, during the period from 8.0 seconds to 8.5 seconds, the maximum puff sensing value is 0.28 and the reference critical value is 0.17. At that time, the difference value obtained by subtracting the reference critical value from the maximum puff sensing value is 0.11.

The difference value also depends on the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate; the larger the difference value, the greater the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate.

In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device can determine the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate based on the difference value. For example, the difference value in the section from 8.0 seconds to 8.5 seconds is smaller than the difference value in the section from 23.0 seconds to 23.5 seconds. In this case, it can be determined that the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate in the section from 23.0 seconds to 23.5 seconds is greater than the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate in the section from 8.0 seconds to 8.5 seconds. As another example, the difference value in the section from 41.5 seconds to 42.5 seconds in which the heater is heated is greater than the difference value in the section from 23.0 seconds to 23.5 seconds. Thus, it can be determined that the amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate is greater in the section from 41.5 seconds to 42.5 seconds than in the section from 23.0 seconds to 23.5 seconds.

The aerosol generating device can accumulate the difference value for each puff generation interval. Referring to FIG. 9, the aerosol generating device can determine three puff generation intervals between 0.1 seconds and 35 seconds. If the difference values of the three puff generation intervals are 0.11, 0.31, and 0.3, respectively, the aerosol generating device can calculate that the accumulated sum of the difference values is 0.72.

The aerosol generating device can determine the amount of vaporization (i.e., consumption) of the aerosol-generating substrate based on the total vaporization amount of the aerosol-generating substrate and the cumulative sum of the difference values. The total vaporization amount can mean the total amount of the aerosol-generating substrate contained in one aerosol product that is heated and vaporized. The total vaporization amount can be represented by the magnitude of a digitally filtered signal. For example, the total vaporization amount can also be set by averaging the cumulative sum of many aerosol products when a preset number of puffs are inhaled.

The aerosol generating device can determine the amount of vaporization and the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating substrate based on the total vaporization amount and the cumulative value of the difference values. Specifically, the aerosol generating device can calculate the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating substrate by subtracting the cumulative sum from the total vaporization amount of the aerosol-generating substrate. For example, if the total vaporization amount is 3.0 and the cumulative sum of the difference values at a specific time is 0.72, the aerosol generating device can determine that the vaporization amount is 0.72 and the remaining amount is 2.28.

The aerosol generating device may increase the preset total number of puffs when the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating substrate is equal to or greater than a preset reference remaining amount. The reference remaining amount may correspond to the amount of aerosol-generating substrate required for the user to perform one or more puffs. The preset total number of puffs may refer to the total number of puffs provided by the aerosol-generating substrate contained in one aerosol product.

The increase in the total number of puffs also depends on the remaining amount of aerosol-generating substrate. If the remaining amount of aerosol-generating substrate is large, the number of available puffs can be increased by a large amount. If the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating substrate is small, the total number of puffs can be increased by a small amount. For example, in an aerosol product with a preset number of puffs of 14, assume that the remaining amount of aerosol-generating substrate is 0.1. In that case, if the preset reference amount is 0.07, the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating substrate is greater than the reference remaining amount. Therefore, the aerosol generating device can increase the preset total number of puffs from 14 to 15. In the above example, if the remaining amount of aerosol-generating substrate is 0.2, the aerosol generating device can increase the preset total number of puffs from 14 to 16.

The aerosol generating device can maintain the preset total number of puffs when the remaining amount of the aerosol generating substrate is less than the preset reference amount. Thus, in the above example, when the remaining amount of the aerosol generating substrate is 0.05, the aerosol generating device can maintain the preset total number of puffs at 14.

The aerosol generating device may extend the heating time of the heater when the remaining amount of the aerosol generating substrate is equal to or greater than a preset reference amount. In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device may extend the heating time of the heater to correspond to the increased total number of puffs.

The user may therefore further inhale the aerosol generated by the remaining aerosol-generating substrate.

Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the heating time of a heater based on the amount of vaporization in an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment. The method of Figure 10 can be performed by the aerosol generating device. For example, the method of Figure 10 can also be performed by a control unit included in the aerosol generating device, such as the control unit 120 in Figures 1 to 3 and the control unit 530 in Figure 5.

In step 1010, the aerosol generating device may determine whether there is a time period during which the puff sensing value is maintained above a reference critical value.

If there is a time period during which the puff sensing value is maintained above the reference critical value, the aerosol generating device may determine the time period as a puff generation period in step 1020. If not, the aerosol generating device may return to the start step.

In step 1030, the aerosol generating device can calculate the difference value for each puff generation interval and sum the difference values.

In step 1040, the aerosol generating device may count the number of puff generation intervals. To this end, the aerosol generating device may further include a counter that counts the number of puff generation intervals. For example, the counter may increment the count value by 1 each time a puff generation interval is detected.

In step 1050, the aerosol generating device may determine whether the number of remaining puffs reaches a preset reference number greater than 0. The number of remaining puffs may be obtained by subtracting the number of counted puff occurrence intervals from the preset total number of puffs. For example, if the preset total number of puffs is 14, the number of counted puff occurrence intervals is 11, and the preset reference number is 3, the aerosol generating device may determine that the number of remaining puffs has reached the preset reference number.

The preset reference number may indicate a point in time for checking the remaining amount of aerosol-generating substrate and controlling the preset total number of puffs. When the remaining number of puffs reaches the preset reference number, the aerosol generating device may determine the remaining amount of aerosol-generating substrate so that the preset total number of puffs is increased before the heater stops heating. As a result, the user may continue puffing by utilizing the remaining amount of aerosol-generating substrate according to the increased preset number of puffs.

In step 1060, if the number of remaining puffs reaches a preset reference number, the aerosol generating device can determine whether the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating substrate is equal to or greater than the preset reference amount. The remaining amount of the aerosol-generating substrate is also the total vaporized amount of the aerosol-generating substrate minus the cumulative sum of the difference values.

In step 1070, if the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating substrate is equal to or greater than the preset reference amount, the aerosol generating device may increase the preset total number of puffs and/or the heater heating time. Otherwise, in step 1080, the aerosol generating device may maintain the preset total number of puffs and the heater heating time.

The preset total number of puffs and the heating time of the heater are controlled based on the remaining amount of aerosol generating substrate to provide additional puffs or not, thereby preventing waste of aerosol product and increasing user convenience.

An embodiment may also be embodied in the form of a recording medium that includes computer executable commands such as program modules executed by the computer. Computer readable media is any available medium that can be accessed by a computer, including both volatile and non-volatile media, and both separate and non-separate media. Computer readable media also includes both computer storage media and communication media. The computer storage media includes both volatile and non-volatile, separate and non-separate media embodied in any method or technology for storing information such as computer readable commands, data structures, program modules, or other data. The communication media typically includes computer readable commands, data structures, other data in a modulated data signal such as a program module, or other transmission mechanism, and includes any information delivery media.

The above description of the embodiments is merely illustrative, and a person skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the invention must be determined by the claims, and all differences within the scope equivalent to the contents described in the claims must be interpreted as being included in the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims (7)

a heater for heating the aerosol-generating substrate;
a puff sensor for measuring the size of a user's puff;
a control unit that determines an amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate based on a value measured by the puff sensor, and controls a heating time of the heater based on a puff sensing value indicating the size of the user's puff and the determined amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate ,
The control unit is
A time period during which the puff sensing value is maintained above a reference critical value is determined as a puff occurrence period;
An aerosol generating device that calculates a difference value by subtracting the reference critical value from the maximum puff sensing value in the puff generation section, calculates a cumulative sum of the difference values for multiple puff generation sections, and determines the amount of evaporation of the aerosol-generating substrate based on the previously set total amount of evaporation of the aerosol-generating substrate and the cumulative sum of the difference values in the puff generation section. The puff sensor includes:
Measure the temperature of the heater;
The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the heater temperature is digitally filtered to generate the puff sensing value. The control unit is
subtracting the cumulative sum from the total amount of vaporized aerosol-forming substrate to calculate the amount of the aerosol-forming substrate remaining;
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein when the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating substrate is equal to or greater than a preset reference amount, a preset number of puffs of the aerosol-generating substrate is increased. The control unit is
subtracting the cumulative sum from the total amount of vaporized aerosol-forming substrate to calculate the amount of the aerosol-forming substrate remaining;
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein when the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating substrate is less than a preset reference remaining amount, a preset total number of puffs of the aerosol-generating substrate is maintained. The control unit is
subtracting the cumulative sum from the total amount of vaporized aerosol-forming substrate to calculate the amount of the aerosol-forming substrate remaining;
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein when the remaining amount of the aerosol generating substrate is equal to or greater than a preset amount, the heating time of the heater is extended. a counter for counting the number of puff occurrence periods;
The control unit subtracts the number of puff generation sections from a preset total number of puffs, and when the acquired remaining number of puffs reaches a preset reference number, controls at least one of the heating time of the heater and the preset total number of puffs based on the determined amount of vaporization. 1. A method for controlling an aerosol generating device, comprising:
heating the aerosol-generating substrate;
measuring the size of a user's puff using a puff sensor;
determining a time period during which a value measured by the puff sensor is maintained above a reference critical value as a puff occurrence period;
calculating a difference value by subtracting the reference critical value from a maximum value measured in the puff generation section, calculating a cumulative sum of the difference values over a plurality of puff generation sections, and determining the vaporization amount of the aerosol-generating substrate based on a preset total vaporization amount of the aerosol-generating substrate and the cumulative sum of the difference values ;
and controlling a heating time of the heater based on the determined amount of vaporization of the aerosol-generating substrate .